After an entire apartment building was evacuated last week in Saskatoon due to high carbon monoxide levels, and 29 people were taken to hospital, the Saskatoon Fire Department is sharing tips on how to avoid carbon monoxide in your home.

Fire Chief Morgan Hackl says carbon monoxide alarms are intended to alert you to the possibility of an odourless, colourless, tasteless, and poisonous gas in your home. Elevated levels of carbon monoxide can cause illness or death before people even know it is there.

The Saskatoon Fire Department recommends installing carbon monoxide alarms outside each sleeping area in the home and say they are most effective when interconnected throughout your home.

It is also recommended you test your carbon monoxide alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. The entire alarm should be replaced every seven years or sooner if required.

Tips to keep your home free of carbon monoxide:
• Have your heating equipment, like furnaces and fireplaces, properly installed, maintained and inspected by a licensed contractor.
• Make sure that your furnace and water heater pipes are in good condition.
• Make sure all furnace panels or grills are in place and the fan compartment door is secured.
• Make sure that your chimneys and flue vents are not blocked by debris, frost or snow.
• Have your fuel-burning appliances, like water heaters, gas ranges, gas clothes dryers or gas fueled portable heaters properly installed, maintained and inspected by a licensed contractor.
• Never use a gas barbecue indoors.
• Never run your vehicle in the garage, even if the garage door is open.
• Never run a generator in your home, garage or crawl space. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up in the home.
• Never use a gas range, oven or dryer for heating.
• Never start lawn mowers or snow blowers inside an enclosed space.